Barnsley boss admits to split loyalties

City are 90 minutes away from a fifth trip to Wembley in three years, with Barnsley standing in the way of an FA Cup semi-final berth.

Today’s game is now a complete sell-out after Barnsley announced that they’ve sold their allocation of 6,000 tickets yesterday.

As featured in our list of Barnsley connections, the Tykes boss David Flitcroft is brother to former City skipper Garry and he’s admitted to a degree of divided loyalties in the build-up to today’s semi-final.

"She's proud. We all spent a lot of time at Maine Road watching our Gaz. He was City's captain and their catalyst. We have a lot of good memories. They were happy times. We went a lot with my dad watching Gaz play and his boys are City fans now.

"It's important we play with a verve and a passion and a steel, things I represent as a person.”

As you can see in this week’s episode of Inside City, the club allowed Real Madrid to train at the Etihad Stadium in preparation for their Champions League win over Manchester United.

Now it has emerged that City’s rivals extended a similar invitation to Barnsley to offer a helping hand before this evening’s game.

“After drawing 1-1 at Burnley on Tuesday night, Barnsley boss David Flitcroft booked his players into a local hotel and set about organising training facilities in and around the Manchester area for the following three days,” the Daily Mail reports.

“It was an attempt to provide a break from the normal routine, ahead of their tie with Manchester City, and he hit the jackpot when United agreed to open the doors to their Carrington headquarters and place their lavish facilities at the Championship club’s disposal on Thursday.”

Follow the game here on mcfc.co.uk with live text and audio commentary in the Match Day Centre or get your updates on twitter.com/mcfc if you’re on the move.

Finally, today’s only significant transfer gossip concerns Dutch midfielder Adam Maher, who is reportedly being lined up for a switch to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

“Manchester City are in pole position to sign €9 million-rated playmaker Adam Maher from Dutch side AZ in the summer amid interest from a number of Premier League clubs,” Goal.com reports.

“The 19-year-old has also attracted Premier League interest from Arsenal and Chelsea with his eye-catching performances in the Eredivisie in the last two seasons.

“City director of football Txiki Begiristain has held talks over a move for Maher and the Netherlands international has been invited to attend a game at the Etihad Stadium.”

Don’t forget that the only place to read confirmed transfer rumours this summer is right here on mcfc.co.uk.